ng room, adjusting the belt of his heavy

ring, and sobbing into her hands. The deep lines on P

e edge of the wood, letting her knees buckle slightly as if she couldn't support her own we

ze snapping to Julian. "What ex

kles were white. "She refused to eat her breakf

Her eyes were red and wide. She looked at he

he choked out, her voice crackin

's organic produce flown in this

eyes softened

she had learned in the quarry.Noise and anger annoyed her, and playing the broken, pathetic victim was the fastest way to make the noise stop. It wasn't an active manipulat

ated on absolute discretion. He hated no

"Just get her a different brea

his voice tight. "You are

ered no argument. "A minor compromise will n

le. She stayed on the floor, keeping up the act, until sh

plate of greasy bacon and fried eggs. It wasn't a do

up her fork. She began shoveling the food into her mouth, chewing loudl

"If you embarrass this family at school

ce of Connor Hayes flashed in her mind. Her supposed boyfriend. The pa

d, killing the res

against the porcelain. She wiped

thin three feet of me today,"

ected companion. Aurora usually followed him around

r pathetic games to get his

is a parasite. He's just using me to drain r

oom went com

hed, replaced by the sharp, predatory focus of a CEO smel

. The Carlisle family did not tolerat

evidence yet. "I just finally saw his fa

chair back. "I'm going t

brother staring after her. She had successfully pla

ilored, understated prep school uniforms hung in perfect lines. She grabbe

e fifteen-year-old girl staring back at her l

vanity. The screen lit

red. She picked up the phone. She hit the decline butto

d up. Why aren't you answeri

. She needed a reason to skip school today, and Co

assed the expensive pens and grabbed a simple, metal box cutte

uarry: Never enter a ro

ria was coming up the stairs with fresh towels. Aurora locked eyes with her.

, was waiting by the front door. He held hi

Miss C

past him and

driveway. He watched Aurora slide into the back of the car. He p

yes," Julian ordered, his voice like ice.

backseat, Aurora closed her eyes and leaned her head against